Homeowners near Florida's three Jacksonville-area Navy installations are being urged to take a closer look at their drinking water.
Some private wells outside the bases have already shown elevated levels of PFAS, a class of chemicals linked to a range of health issues.
Here's what to know
As Action News Jax reported, the Navy is offering free water sampling to people with private wells near Naval Station Mayport, Naval Air Station Jacksonville, and Outlying Landing Field Whitehouse.
Officials say the Jacksonville-area testing is part of a larger national effort to find out whether PFAS linked to base activity has spread into nearby drinking water sources.
Often called "forever chemicals," PFAS can persist in the environment for a very long time. Navy officials say they are sampling on and around the three Jacksonville-area installations, focusing especially on homes that get water from private wells rather than public systems.
According to Captain Ryan Dexter, a commanding officer at NAS Jacksonville, investigators believe past firefighting activity is the most likely source being examined.
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"A chemical that could have run off the base over the years through certain activities that we have had on the base through the years, mostly firefighting type of stuff. And so, we are just looking to test and see if their water for their water wells has been affected by that," Dexter said.
Officials say the off-base results have been mixed, with some areas testing below the Department of War's PFAS benchmark for private drinking water and others above it. Residents who got cards in the mail are being encouraged to use the free sampling.
More background
Private well owners do not have the same routine oversight as customers of large public water systems.
If contamination reaches a private well, it can go undetected unless the homeowner takes action to test for it.
PFAS exposure has been linked to elevated cholesterol, higher blood pressure in pregnant women, and some cancers, but exposure alone does not mean a person will develop health problems.
Testing can identify whether there may be a potential hazard, while doctors and researchers continue to study how different exposure levels affect people over time.
"The PFAS has kind of come to us new since about 2018 and so what we are really looking to do is to sample to see if there first is any issue and from there what we can do to remedy it," Dexter said.
Knowing whether a well is affected can help families decide on filtration, alternative water sources, or next steps with officials.
What can be done?
If your home uses well water and you received a card in the mail, signing up for the free sampling is the recommended next step.
That testing could help determine whether any follow-up action is needed.
According to NAS Jacksonville officials, homes served by the City of Atlantic Beach or JEA do not need this sampling.
The Navy has also used open houses in affected communities to share information with residents and register them for free water sampling.
Anyone concerned about possible health effects should also speak with a medical professional.
Dexter explained, "Research is still ongoing about what effects PFAS may have, and I would invite them to talk to their doctors if they have any specific questions on that."
Where can I learn more?
Questions about PFAS have also come up near military bases and in drinking water systems across the country.
• In Okinawa, Japan, residents found groundwater near U.S. military bases contaminated with PFAS and demanded answers.
• In New Mexico, officials moved against Cannon after pollution tied to base activity sparked public outrage.
• In Michigan, officials widened testing for "forever chemicals" in drinking water around Pellston.
• Across the U.S., regulators warned that PFAS contamination in drinking water still needs urgent attention.
• An EPA review found millions of Americans' drinking water still carries troubling PFAS risks.
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